ALOR STAR: Kedah are in turmoil, with more than half of the squad absent from training sessions due to unpaid salaries, placing more pressure on caretaker coach Victor Andrag ahead of upcoming Super League and Challenge Cup fixtures.
Victor confirmed that fewer than 50 per cent of the players had reported for training since it resumed on Sunday, raising concerns about their preparedness for their next Super League match against Kelantan Darul Naim (KDN) on Jan 10.
"Since we started training on Sunday, less than half of the squad has attended compared to before," Victor said after a session at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium (SSAH) on Thursday.
"This situation is concerning as we have important matches coming up. Players who miss training will likely face fitness issues, which could affect the team's overall performance.
"I hope attendance improves over the coming days, as we have only a week to prepare."
Reports have recently emerged that Kedah have been barred from using the SSAH for training due to unpaid debts, adding to the club's troubles.
However, Victor said the issue is being addressed after discussions between the management and the stadium authorities.
"For now, we are continuing our training sessions at the SSAH," he said.
Kedah's financial troubles have cast a shadow over their preparations, with the lack of players at training highlighting the severity of the crisis.
Victor has been the caretaker coach since the resignation of head coach Nafuzi Zain in November.
Nafuzi is now the national Under-23 coach.